Thank you BCBud. I am glad you found this article and posted the link here.
This further highlights the dichotomy of diverging points of view from inside the Maroon communities. On one hand, many of the residents just want to live in peace and security as Accompong has for 274 years and others who want to make a living inside those communities and thus not having to go outside or affaren to do so.
Tourism brings visitors and much needed money to the residents and to the towns but, at the same time, the very reason people come to these places is under attack. Quoting lyrics from the Eagles, “They call it paradise I don't know why. You call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye”.
When I first went to Accompong Town in the early ‘90s, the culture was alive and vibrant. The January 6th Celebration was mostly an internal event where the past was honored by the Maroon peoples from Accompong and around the island and those returning from affaren. This celebration “vacuum” is rapidly being filled by the outside world in the form of higglers, con artists and other profiteers who flourish like a virus inside the peaceful confines of the town.
Since I have come to live in Accompong Town, I am more acutely aware of the gradual takeover and privy to the talk of taking it back mostly from the youth of the community. A push is on to revive the Celebration and the town’s cultural side by providing more goods and services created by and for the people of the town and less bend down market inferior products that you can find on any street corner in Jamaica.
An important part of this transformation is The Accompong Riverstone Project. The riverstones that I displayed pictures of previously are some of the pieces of work done by the children involved with the Project. This November and December, new classes will be given to develop their artistic talents and to provide leadership for budding entrepreneurs.
I will be posting a link shortly to a Web Site where you can learn more and where you can help. We will be looking for some volunteers who would like to teach arts and skills to our next year’s group of students. More Soon Come.
Peace and Guidance.
